Rotherham's VC heroes remembered

The names of the town’s three holders of the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for gallantry, have been engraved into the granite coping stones of the new fountain pool within Clifton Park's Memorial Garden.

The new memorial which lies behind the Cenotaph, is to be dedicated in a special service conducted jointly by the Vicar of Rotherham, the Rev. Canon David Bliss, and the Priest-in-Charge at St. James, Clifton, the Rev. Abi Thompson at 11 am on Wednesday.

The three heroes are Thomas Norman Jackson, of Swinton; George William Chafer, of Bramley and Ian John McKay.

Pte Chafer, was serving with the 1st Battalion, the East Yorkshire Regiment, on June 3 and 4, 1916, at the battle of the Somme, when a messenger carrying vital information was injured under a heavy bombardment.

Pte Chafer took the message and succeeded in delivering it after braving machine gun and shell fire. He was badly wounded and suffered the effects of gas, but survived and died in 1966.

On September 27, 1918, and also in France during the First world War, Lance Corporal Thomas Norman Jackson of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, was the first to volunteer to follow Captain C.H. Frisby across the Canal du Nord in his rush against an enemy machine-gun post.

With two comrades, he followed his officer across the canal, rushed the post, capturing two machine-guns, and so enabled the companies to advance.

Later in the morning, Lance Corporal Jackson was the first to jump into a German trench which his platoon had to clear and after further intense action he was killed.

Aged 21, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for most “conspicuous bravery and self sacrifice in the attack across the Canal du Nord, near Graincourt.”

The third hero Sgt Ian McKay, was awarded the VC posthumously because with “a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him.”

He had charged and single-handedly cleared an enemy position during the Falklands War in 1982 during which he served with the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment.

Sergeant McKay's mother, Mrs. Freda McKay, will be one of the many relatives and friends attending next Wednesday's service. Also present will be representatives of the three men's regiments, including the Parachute Regiment, the Yorkshire Regiment and the Territorial Army, as well as the Royal British Legion, the Fellowship of Services and other ex-service organisations.

Also attending the service and laying wreaths will be the Vice Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Giles Bloomer; the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham, Coun. Shaun and Lisa Wright; the Chief Executive and Leader of Rotherham Borough Council, Martin Kimber and Coun. Roger Stone.

The work to provide the new feature was instigated by Rotherham Borough Council, to provide a permanent memorial to the three men.

The new fountain pool was paid for by Heritage Lottery Funding as part of the renovation of Clifton Park while Rotherham Borough Council paid for the engraving of the names and inscription which was carried out by the Rotherham Memorial Co.

The Mayor of Rotherham, Coun. Shaun Wright, said it would be “an honour” to attend the service.

He added: “The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration that can be awarded to members of the armed forces and takes precedence over all other orders. It is awarded for valour ‘in the face of the enemy’ and the fact that only 39 have been presented since the Second World War shows just how significant this honour is and why it is so important that the three holders are recognised here in Rotherham. Their bravery is an inspiration to us all.”